this town is like a stranger to her now , there are little things she finds comforting here . while others are eager to bask in the new york sun during a much anticipated summer , claudia longs for distance between her and the reminders of her life here . she’d attained a mastery in ignoring phone calls from her family , who were not requesting but demanding her return home during the summer . fake smiles bleeding onto her face as she says “ i’ll think about it ! ” before ending the call with her mother . they never expected this dutifulness from her brother who had become a ghost to their family . upon the first hour of her arrival back onto the east coast she had already been expected to slip right back into old routines , shake hands with strangers and nodding her head in compliance when her father would ramble on about whatever notion that had struck his nerve that day . but there were a few clear silver linings to her reluctant return home , one particular one manifests itself in the house right next door .
they’re basking in the dark glow that comes after midnight , a rare opportunity for her to experience some form of freedom , free from the pressures that perpetually linger within her . perhaps this is mostly due to the company she’s surrounded herself with , the possibilities seem endless in his presence . “ thanks for helping me sneak out , sorry if i awoke you from your beauty sleep . ” this happened to be one of the rare exceptions to her dissatisfaction with this town , in fact , she was eager to see her former neighbour . eager to reconnect with this particular figure from her past . “ but you should be used to midnight antics with me and i already need to wind down , i didn’t think it was possible but my family got even more annoying since the last time i’ve been back . ”
part of the distinction between his life in high school and his life now was the uncertainty , arguably even more prominent than usual since theo had returned . who would be making an appearance in bridgehampton this summer ? and who would remain a distant memory or a yearbook photo that he may never see again ? though he had hopes raised that claudia would be among those home for the summer , he’s unsure as to whether the raven haired girl planned to make an appearance . being informed of her arrival was an unexpected perk , to say the least . a breath of fresh air from the pressures and people that he tried so hard to forget in california . but thoughts of the petite femme had admittedly bloomed in the back of his mind as he prepared for his arrival home , and returning has him more eager than ever to reconnect with her .
under the moonlight , iridescent glow accentuating the raven haired femme’s features –– theo can genuinely admit to being content . it wasn’t common , nor often that the male’s lungs could feel as if they could breathe . but here , with her head nestled into his chest as they lay in someone’s private garden ( after trespassing , how typical ) , relief was possible momentarily .. regardless of how fleeting it was . head tilts to glance over at her as she speaks, brows raised at her apology . “ oh c’mon , sleep or you .. it’s not even a question . ” loose lips forego a filter when he’s around claudia , finding little need for towering walls or protective guards that assemble so quickly around so many others . “ used to them ? nah , this couldn’t get old . ” sandy haired boy asserts nonchalantly , before redirecting his interests to the weight on her chest . “ oh yeah ? how many functions have you already had to go to ? ” he pokes with a lighthearted comment , simply attempting to relieve her of some of her stress before continuing on . “ really though , what’s going on ? ”
